Paper doll and method of making the same



1945. E. B.-EI\ IGLE 2,369,031

PAPER DOLL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed May 13, 1942 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER DOLL AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Edna B. Engle, St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 13, 1942, Serial No. 442,859

2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in dolls, and method of making the same.

Paper dolls are usually constructed by printing doll figures upon a sheet of cardboard, or the like, and cutting out around the figure to form the doll. Paper dolls have been made to simulate various real or fictional characters. It' has even been proposed to apply a picture of the head of a child possessor to a tab projecting from the shoulders of the body so that the doll would simulate in appearance the child possessor. While this arrangement has some advantages, there are also many disadvantages. In the first place, the. photograph is ordinarily formed of thin and brittle material, and if merely adhered to a relatively small tab the edges of the photograph would project beyond the edges of tab and be subject to injury. Furthermore, to have the relatively thin and brittle photograph projecting beyond the edges of the tab on the body would'not produce a very realistic appearance in the finished product.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper doll by first taking a picture of a child whom the paper doll is to simulate, and secondly enlarging this picture by a suitable enlarging means until it is just the proper size to suit the doll body. The photograph is then applied to, a backing sheet and adhered securely thereto. The doll body, which has been printed on a relatively thin and flexible sheet is then adhered to the photograph and to the backing sheet. The doll is then cut out to complete the figure.

. An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a backing sheet having a size indication thereupon to indicate the size of the head of the finished doll. The backing sheet may then be placed on the table of an enlarging device and the image of the negative of the head of the child may be projected thereupon by the enlarger. The enlarger is moved to a proper distance from the backing sheet so that the image of the head of the child to be reproduced coincides with the size indication on the backing sheet. The enlarger is then turned off and a sheet of sensitized film is substituted for the backing sheet. As a result, the picture produced is of just the proper size to fit the indication on the backing sheet.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a body printed on a relatively thin paper and preferably coated with adhesive so that it may be readily glued or adhered to the backing sheet. When the body has been adhered to the backing sheet and the glue has set, the figure of the doll is complete and may be finished by cutting out the doll figure.

An object of the present invention liesin the provision of a doll which is extremely natural in appearance. Ifthe head of the doll is added to a projecting tab or stub on the figure, the neck of the printed doll figure usually does not properly fit the photographed head. However, by having the photograph include the head and neck of the child, an extremely life-like doll is produced. The body of the printed doll figure laps over the surface of the photographed head, adding to the illusion by simulating the appearance of clothes overlying the neck of the wearer. For this additional reason, it is advantageous to adhere the body portion of the printed doll figure over the surface of the marginal edges of the photograph.

A feature of the present invention lies in coloring the photograph before attaching the same to the backing sheet. The photograph is preferably highly tinted to blend with the colors of the printed doll body'figure before the photograph is adhered to the backing sheet. As a result, a more realistic effect is produced.

' It is a feature of the present invention to have the doll simulate the child possessor, or a friend of the possessor, so that more care will be taken in the, selection of proper clothes to fit the doll. As a result, the child possessor will be readily taught the proper clothes to Wear and the importance of being Well dressed.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a backing sheet, showing my construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in'. which the photograph size is determined through the use of the backing sheet.

Figure 3 illustrates the backing sheet after the photograph has been added thereto.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the body portion of the doll before it is applied to the'backing sheet.

Figure 5 illustrates the doll after the body has been adhered to the backing sheet and thedoll body has'been cut therefrom. v

Figure 6 illustrates the backing sheet from which the doll has been cut.

Figure '7 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the doll, in greatly enlarged form, showing the manner in. which the body of the doll overlaps the photograph.

' Figure 8 is a plan view of a dress which may be used to cover the figure of the doll.

The backing sheet In is formed of cardboard, or

other suitable material, and may be any desired outline shape. Printed upon the backing sheet, I provide one or a series of oval-shaped representations such as ll, containing indicia l2 indicating the age or age group. The oval II is to indicate the size of the head of a doll of a certain age or age group, as designated by the indicia I2.

In the formation of the doll a picture istaken of the head and neck of the child who is to receive the doll, or who is to give the doll ,to' a friend. A negative of this picture is placed in the photographic enlarging device I3, which includes the usual light source 14 and reflector 15.

the backing sheet I0 which rests upon the table.

- 11. By adjustment of the enlarger l3 along the support I9, an image of the proper size is .projected upon thebacking sheet in accordance with the oval gage ll printed thereupon. When the head of the image is approximately the same size as the oval II, the enlarger I3 is clamped in this position.

Asheet of sensitized print paper is then placed over the backing sheet I0, or substituted therefor, and the image is projected onto this sensitized sheet. The photograph is produced in the usual manner. While the foregoing discussion has described one particular form of enlarging device, obviously any form of enlarger may be use with similar results. 1

An image of the head of the child is printe at upon the sensitized paper 2 l and this image is then adhered to the backing sheet ID, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing,'preferably in position to cover the oval indication I I. The body of the doll may then be added. The body 22 of the doll is preferably printed on thin flexible paper, or other suitable material 23, whichis preferably provided with a gummed surface 24. The bodyis cut out at the neck to follow the neck line of the garment worn, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing. In' dotted outline is shown the ordinary rectangle shape of the sheet on which the body is printed. The sheet 23 on which the body is printed may either be cut out in the form illustrated in full outline or may be left in the.

rectangular state, as indicated by the dotted outline.

The sheet 23 is next affixed to the backing sheet Ill so that the upper portion of the sheet 23 overlaps the photograph sheet 2|. This not only provides a life-like appearance to the finished doll, but also provides depth to the figure, particularly about the neck line of the body 22.

After the sheet 23 is firmly attached to the backing sheet ID, the entire figure is cut out about the'outline of the body to provide the doll best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing. When out out the backing sheet I0 will appear somewhat as in Figure 6 of the drawing, with portions of the photograph sheet 2| and of the sheet 23 adhered to the backing sheet in.

In Figure '7 of the drawing, I disclose the backing sheet [0 having the photographic sheet 2! adhered to the surface thereof by a layer of glue or other adhesive, such as 25, and having the sheet 23 adhered to the surface thereof by means of the gum or adhesive 24. It will be noted that the, upper marginal edge 26 of the body 22 overlaps the lower marginal edge of the photograph 20 so as to produce an illusion of depth and to also create a life-like appearance.

The doll A, illustrated in Figure '5 of the drawing, may be provided with dresses or clothes of various types, as indicated by the letter B in Figure 8 of the drawing. All types of garments may be provided for the doll in the usual manner and these garments may be held in place by any suitable means, such as the foldable tabs 21.

If it is sov desired, a sheet similar to the shee 23, having the outline shape of the reverseside of the figure may be provided, and a photograph of the rear of the head'may be adhered to the 'rear surface of the backing sheet ID to be overlapped by the rear body sheet, such a 23. In other words, both the front and the back can be made by following a similar method, if both a front and rear view of the head is photographed, and if two sheets such as 23, one showing the front ofthe body and the other showin the rear of the body, are provided.

While I have described the preferred idea of gumming or applying adhesive to the rear surfaces of the photograph sheet 2| and the sheet 23, it should be understood that the forward sur face of the backing sheet It! could be gummed. This procedure would not secure any overlapping portions, such as 26, but would permit either attachment of the parts in abutting relation or in overlapping relation if the back of the sheet 23 were also gummed.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my doll, and while'I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

- I claim:

1, The method of making a doll having a backing sheet and a body sheet bearing the representation of a doll body, the method consisting in photographing the head and bust of a living person, preparing a photographic positive showing the head and bust and having a margin thereabout, securing said photographic positive to the backing sheet, cutting about the neck line of-the body sheetrepresentation of a doll body, but at other points leaving amargin, securing the body sheet to the background sheet in proper relation to the head and'bust of the photographic positive and cutting through the backing sheet about the outline of the combined body and head to produce when finished a complete outline of to the backing sheet, securing the body sheet'to the background sheet in proper relation to the head and bust of the photographic positive, and cutting through the backing sheet about the outline. of the combined body and head to produce when finished a complete outline of the head,

bust and figure.

EDNA B. ENGLE. 

